Georgia, Naturalization Records, 1790-1940

What is in This Collection?

This collection includes records such as Petitions for Naturalization, Declarations of Intention, Oaths of Allegiance, and Military Petitions filed in the United States District and Circuit Courts of Georgia from 1790 to 1940. Original records are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration Branch in East Point, Georgia. This collection is associated with NARA Microfilm Publication M1547.

The naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to the late 1800s each document was usually handwritten on one page. From the late 1800s and on, printed forms were used. After 1906, many entries were typewritten. While there were various types of naturalization records, the Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petition usually had the most complete genealogical information. The first naturalization act was passed in 1802. Immigrants to the United States were not required to apply for citizenship. Of those who did apply, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship. Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen was a two-part process: the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize, or First Papers, and the Naturalization Record (including the Naturalization Petition), or Final Papers. The First Papers were normally filed five years before the Final Papers because of the five-year residency requirement to become a citizen.

No centralized files existed before 1906. In 1906 federal forms replaced the various formats that had been used by the various courts. Copies were sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), creating a central file for naturalization papers. The INS is now known as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Naturalization records are generally well preserved, but some records may have been lost to fire or other disasters. Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. Counties recorded naturalization procedures in the court records as legal proof of citizenship. Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District
• Northern Division (Atlanta)
• Eastern Division (Athens)
• Western Division (Columbus
• Northwestern Division (Rome)
• Gainesville Division
• Newnan Division
• U.S. Circuit Court for the Northern District
• Northern Division (Atlanta)
• Eastern Division (Athens)
• Western Division (Columbus
• Northwestern Division (Rome)
• U.S. District and Circuit Courts for the Northern District
• Confederate States District Court for the Northern Division of the District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District
• Eastern Division (Athens)
• Southwestern Division (Albany)
• Southwestern Division (Valdosta)
• Western Division (Columbus)
• Western Division (Macon)
• Americus Division
• Thomasville Division
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District
• Northeastern Division (Augusta)
• Eastern Division (Savannah)
• Southwestern Division (Albany)
• Southwestern Division (Valdosta)
• Western Division (Macon)
• Brunswick
• Dublin
• Swainsboro
• Waycross
• U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District
• Northeastern Division (Augusta)
• Eastern Division (Savannah)
• Southwestern Division (Albany)
• Southwestern Division (Valdosta)
• Western Division (Macon)
• U.S. District and Circuit Courts for the Southern District
• Macon Division
• Savannah Division

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:
Petition

Declarations of Intent and Naturalization Petitions

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  1918 Military Petition

• 

  1918 Oath of Allegiance of Military Petition

• 

  1923 Declaration of Intention

Inventory

For a list of all the titles included in this Historical Records publication see Georgia, Naturalization Records - Inventory